Ejector spillguard ice cube tray

ABSTRACT

An ice cube tray structure in which a plastic molded spillguard ice tray is provided with an ejector grid having a longitudinal divider plate the end projections of which are removably secured within the inwardly open transverse groove portions of the Ushaped flange which surrounds the top of the tray. Each transverse groove has paired notch forming rib members therein for receiving one of the end projections there-between upon first moving the grid axially for placing the first projection in its notch and then in a lateral direction such that the second projection can be readily snapped into position by hand. A plurality of similar integrally molded rib members are located in the longitudinal side groove portion of the U-shaped flange intermediate the transverse grid walls to allow ready harvesting of the ice cubes from the cells of the inverted ejector grid while permitting the free flow of water within the groove.

United States Patent [191 Pietrzak et al.

[ 1 Apr. 23, 1974 EJECTOR SPILLGUARD ICE CUBE TRAY [73] Assignee:General Motors Corporation,

Detroit, Mich.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 258,902

[52] U.S. Cl 249/69, 249/71, 249/127, 249/206 [51] Int. Cl. F25c 1/24[58] Field of Search 249/69, 71, 131,134,127, 249/206, 129

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,912,065 5/1933 Buchanan etal 249/134 X 3,019,617 2/1962 Malthaner et al. 249/131 X 3,398,5528/1968 Pietrzak 2.49/69 X 3,539,145 11/1970 Maxwell 249/127 X 3,638,9032/1972 Pietrzak et al 249/69 3,724,804 4/1973 Campbell et a1 249/69 XPrimary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-Robert J.Craig Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward P. Barthel [57] ABSTRACT An icecube tray structure in which a plastic molded spillguard ice tray isprovided with an ejector grid having a longitudinal divider plate theend projections of which are removably secured within the inwardly opentransverse groove portions of the U-shaped flange which surrounds thetop of the tray. Each transverse groove has paired notch forming ribmembers therein for receiving one of the end projections there-betweenupon first moving the grid axially for placing the first projection inits notch and then in a lateral direction such that the secondprojection can be readily snapped into position by hand. A plurality ofsimilar integrally molded rib members are located in the longitudinalside groove portion of the U-shaped flange intermediate the transversegrid walls to allow ready harvesting of the ice cubes from the cells ofthe inverted ejector grid while permitting the free flow of water withinthe groove.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2 1974 3806; 077

SHEET 1 UP 2 38061077. SHEET 2 [1F 2 PATENTEDAPR 2 7 EJECTOR SPILLGUARDICE CUBE TRAY This invention relates to an ejector tray structure and isdirected in particular to a spillguard freezing tray having removablymounted therein an ejector grid for ready harvesting ice blockstherefrom.

One form of harvesting ice cubes from a freezing tray involves an icecube ejector tray structure which may be inverted and supported on anice block collecting bin such that by operation of a grid ejector handlethe ice blocks are released from the tray into the bin. The ejector gridhas a longitudinal lower bar or divider plate secured in the tray and amultiplicity of transverse walls forming molded cells for forming theice blocks together with a longitudinally extending upper bar linkedtoan operating handle which actuates the walls from an inclined positiontoward a vertical position to break the bond between the ice blocks andthe grid and release the cubes from the tray and grid. An example ofsuch an apparatus is disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,955,440 issued Oct. ll,1960 to S. L. Erickson et al, and assigned to the same assignee astheinstant application. With the advent of the integrally moldedspillguardfreezing container disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,638,903, issuedJan. I, 1972, to J. P. Pietrzak et al, providing a freezing container inwhich spilling is prevented, a need was found to combine the advantagesof the spillguard tray together with an ejector grid,

It istherefore an object of this invention to provide an improved icecube ejector spillguard tray and ejector grid combination with a leveractuated ejector shucking grid including a longitudinal divider plateand a multiplicity of partition transverse walls wherein the dividerplate is formed at each end with a first projecting ear and a secondprojecting tab having a beveled surface, the spillguard tray continuousinturned U- shaped flange adjacent its upper periphery forming aninwardly open water receiving groove which allows for the mounting andremoval of the grid by moving the grid first laterally toward one end ofthe tray for insertion of the ear in between a first pair of ribs in alateral end groove and then in a downward direction in combination withthe tab beveled surface to enable the grid to be snapped into positionin the trays opposite lateral end groove between a second pair of ribs,each pair of ribs extending downwardly from the top surface of thegroove approximately midway to the bottom surface such that theirassociated. ear and tab projections are captured therebetween while anuninterrupted water flow passageway is maintained within the continuousgroove.

It is another object of the invention to provide a combined spillguardtray and ejector grid structure, the spillguard tray being formed with acontinuous U- shaped flange adjacent its upper periphery, containing aninwardly open water receiving groove having rib members therein locatedin spaced relation within each longitudinal portion of the groove suchthat individualribs are positioned intermediate the transverse partitionwalls of the grid, each of the ribs extending downwardly from the topsurface of the groove approximately midway to the groove bottom surface,and each of the ribs including a beveled inwardly facing surface flushwith the upper edge of the flange to prevent the ice blocks from beingobstructed by the flange during harvesting of the ice blocks from thetray.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the combined spillguard tray andejector grid showing the grid in a partially inserted position;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 1 with the ejector gridin the fully inserted position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the spillguard freezing tray;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 illustrating the relationof the grid center partition in its retained position;

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3; i

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the right hand transversetray flange as viewed in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the longitudinalspillguard;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sction of the left hand transversetray flange as viewed in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the center partition of the ejectorgrid.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, 10 indicates an ejector tray structure,which structure comprises or includes a spillguard container or tray 12,an ejector grid assembly 14 having an actuating mechanism assembly 16.The spillguard tray 12, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, has sloping end walls22 extending at an angle of about 25 degrees from the vertical for easyejection. The bottom wall 24 may be of any desired contour; however asshown the bottom wall is provided with two longitudinal upwardlyextending ribs 26 and five transverse upwardly extending ribs 28 whichmay be used in conjunction with a grid having a pair of spacedlongitudinal partition walls as shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,093,980 issuedJune 18,1963 to A. J. Frei. In the present ernbodiment, however, thetray l2'is used in conjunction with an ejector grid having a singlelongitudinal divider plate 30 and eight transverse cross walls 32 of theejector grid 14 which divides the interior of the container 12 intoeighteen compartments. The portions of the bottom wall between the ribsare arcuate in shape for easy ejection as described in the US. Pat. No.3,093,980. The single plate 30 of the grid 14 is located intermediatethe longitudinal ridges 26 and parallel thereto while the transversewalls 32 are located in an offset manner from the ribs 28.

An upper bar 38 rides upon the divider plate 30 and is provided withupwardly extending lugs separated by notches (not shown) in its upperface which support the upwardly projecting flanges 37 for transversewalls so as to support the cross or transverse walls 32 at the top toprovide sufficient material for holding the cross walls together. Asseen best in FIG. 9, plate 30 is simi larly provided with notches 36through which extend the lower webs (not shown) of the transverse walls32.

The upper bar 38 is connected by a pin (not shown) and the links 42 tothe transverse pin 43 on the handle 44 which is pivoted upon the pin toan extension 46 of the fixed lower divider plate. In this arrangementthe transverse walls 32 are raised sufiiciently relative to the traythat their lower edges will not scrape the inner surface of the tray atany time. One example of an ejector grid is shown in detail in US. Pat.No. 3,355,138 issued Nov. 28, 1967 to A. J. Frei, Sr. et al andreference should be made to that patent for further details of a typicalgrid operating means.

The ejector tray structure is inverted over a suitable ice cube storagebin of a type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,440 issued Oct. 11, 1960to S. L. Erickson et al. Such a bin has a downwardly extending openingat its upper edge for clearance with the operating handle 44 of the gridwhen inverting of the tray over a bin for harvesting the cubes from thetray into the bin. For further details of the operation of one form ofan ejector tray in combination with a storage bin reference should bemade to U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,440.

As explained in the aforementioned spillguard U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,903when a freezing container is filled with water or other liquid it isalmost impossible to carry the filled container to the refrigerator andinsert it in the freezing compartment without spilling some of thecontents. To overcome this difficulty the spillguard patent describessidewalls 48 formed upon a curve (FIG. 5), which curves inwardly anincreasing amount as it approaches the bottom 24 of the container. Asdescribed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,903 the means for preventingspillage comprises an intumedsquare U- shaped flange 50 extendingcontinuously around the upper edges of the side and end walls and havingan inwardly extending continuous groove defined by a planar bottom wall52, a planar top wall 54 and a planar inner vertical back wall 56, shownin the enlarged FIG. 6. If desired to stiffen the side and end walls ofthe container the U-shaped flange 50 may have in alignment with itsouter face a downwardly extending rib 61 which at each end 62 may extenddownwardly an increased distance, about two-thirds the height of theflange 50 above, to form handle means. As explained in the U.S. Pat. No.3,638,903 the flange 50 is located entirely outside the side and endwalls of the tray so that it does not impede the removal of the frozenblocks from the compartments or cells of the grid in the container.

The bottom of the container may be provided with longitudinal runners 60extending beneath the centerline of the two outside rows of compartmentsand a group of three runners 63 extending beneath the intermediate '-rowof compartments upon the bottom of the container providing sled-typerunners to insure smooth and easy movement onto and off varioussupporting surfaces. The container should be filled with liquid or wateronly up to the waterline 64 indicated in FIG. 5 which is slightly belowthe bottom of the U-shaped flange 50. The longitudinal lower partitionwall 30 as seen in FIG. 4 is provided at its front end with a generallyrectangular shaped forwardly protruding lug 82 while the rearward end ofthe wall is provided with a rcarwardly projecting ear 84 dimensioned toproject interchangeably into the opposed notch portions 86, 88

defined in the transverse spillguard end grooves 89 of the U-shapedflange 50.

As viewed in FIG. 3 the notch portions 86 and 88 are each defined by apair of rib members 102, 103 and 104, 105 respectively which areintegrally molded within the transverse grooves 89 so as to be equallyspaced on either side of the longitudinal center line of the tray 12 forreceiving interchangeably either the lug 82 or ear 84 protrusion of thegrid plate 30 therebetween. The paired ribs 102, 103 and 104, 105 permitlimited sidewise movement of the grid 14 within the tray to insure equaldistribution of the water therein while establishing proper alignment ofthe grid to insure uniform ice'block formation. T

The installation of the grid 14 within the tray 12 is effected by simplyfirst urging the grid axially forwardly to cause the lug 82 to bereceived in one of the notches, in this case notch 86 (FIG. 8) and thenin a downward direction by a hand applied force with the car 84 alignedwith the opposite remaining notch 88. During insertion of the grid thebeveled edge of ear 84 and the cut-out 90 of longitudinal plate 30 bothcontact the opposed upper top wall lip edges 92 of their associatedtransverse flange while the cut-out 90 aids in moving the shorttransverse or end flanges 50 in an outward manner clue to the axialdirection of a component force of the beveled edge whereby the grid isactually snapped into position by virtue of the resiliency of theopposed end flanges 50. The removal of the grid 14 is effected by asimple reverse operation wherein the grid is urged axially in a forwarddirection to cause the cutout 90 to engage its associated flange lip 92and then in lateral outward direction while the tray end flanges 50 arespread or moved outwardly until the upper edge of the beveled surface 85clears the edge 92.

With reference to enlarged FIG. 6 the rib member is shown integrallymolded to the top wall 54 and back wall 56 of the transverse grooveportion 89 with its inner facing edge 106 sloped downwardly in flushrelation from lip edge 92 and extends downwardly a defined distancewherein its bottom edge 108 is located approximately halfway between topwall 54 and bottom wall 52. By this arrangement the pair of rib members104, 105 are able to capture or retain the ear 84 therebetween whileproviding a flow passageway 110 sufficient to allow for uniformdistribution of the water within the tray during the filling thereof. Inthis regard the ear 84 is dimensioned .to project within the notch 88 aminimal amount for ease of assembly. As explained above the inwardmovement of lug 82 is limited by the depth of cutout 90 to formapassageway 112 beneath its paired end rib members 104, 105 to assurethe transverse flow of water therethrough.

As seen in FIG. 3 individual rib members 114, 115

are integrally molded within the longitudinal groove portions 118 ofU-shaped flange 50 in a manner similar to the paired ribs 102-105. The'longitudinal side grooves 118 have planar bottom walls 122, top walls124 and inner vertical back walls 126 corresponding to the bottom walls52, top walls 54 and vertical back walls '56, of the transverse endgrooves 89. The enlarged FIG. 7 shows a typical side rib 114 extendingdownwardly such that its bottom edge 1 17 is positioned approximatelymidway between top wall 124 and bottom wall 122 of longitudinal groove118 providing a liquid flow passageway 1 19 while the inner facing edge120 of the rib 114 is sloped or taped downwardly and outwardly towardthe side groove and in flush relation with the peripheral side lip edge121 of the U-shaped flange 50.

Applicants unique end rib members 102 105 and side rib members 114 and115 allows liquid to flow freely through passageway 119 of the sidegrooves 118 if the tray is tipped or inclined in a generally endwisemanner and allows liquid to flow freely within end grooves 89 if thetray is rotated generally about its longitudinal axis so as not tomaterially interfere with the spillguard feature of the tray.

The function of the side rib members 114 and 115 is to insure that whenthe tray and ejector grid assembly is placed in an inverted iceharvesting position above an ice block storage bin and the actuatinghandle 44 is operated the ice blocks will be free to fall by gravityinto the bin. It has beenfound that without the use of applicants siderib members 114 and 115 results in some of the ice block edges becomingcaught in the open side grooves 118 and thus interfering with orpreventing the free fall of the ice blocks from the grid. By arrangingthe side ribs 114 and 115, approximately intermediate the transverseside walls 32 their sloped inwardly facing edges, indicated at 120 inFIG. 7, operate to guide the ice blocks past the side flange grooves 118and insure the smooth harvesting of ice from the ejector tray. It willbe noted in FIG. 3 that each of the four terminal side ribs 115 areobliquely oriented at approximately 45 to the longitudinal axis of thetray to provide a While the embodiment of the present invention hereindisclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted.

We claim:

1. A rectangular spillguard freezing container of flexible resilientmaterial in combination with an ice piece forming ejector gridstructure, said container including bottom wall means and side and endwall means, a substantially stiff inturned U-shaped flange adjacent thetop of said end and said side wall means extending outwardly from saidwall means, said U-shaped flange containing a large inwardly open grooveformed by substantially horizontal top wall and bottom wall surfaces anda substantially vertical inwardly facing wall surface joining said topwall and bottom wall surfaces, said U- shaped flange extendingcontinuously around the periphery of said container above and entirelyoutside the confines of all of said end and side wall means wherein theimprovement comprises; means for releasably securing said ejector gridstructure in said container, said ejector grid comprising'alongitudinally extending divider plate and a plurality of transversecross walls, said divider plate being provided at its front end with aforwardly protruding lug and at its back end with a rearwardly facingedge beveled downwardly and inwardly, a pair of closely spaced end ribslocated in each transwardly protruding ear, said ear formed with arearverse end wall groove formed by said U-shaped flanges, each pair ofend ribs being substantially equally spaced on either side of thelongitudinal center line of said container forming first and secondopposed end pockets in said U-shaped flange, each said end ribintegrally molded with said top wall surface and said inwardly facingvertical wall surface of its associated end wall groove, each said endrib extending substantially the full width of its associated end groove,each said end rib extending downwardly from its respective top wallsurface a distance such that its bottom edge is positioned approximatelymidway between its associated end groove top and bottom wall surfaces soas not to substantially interrupt liquid flow passageway in the endgrooves, said ejector grid being inserted in said container by locatingsaid forwardly extending lug in said first pocket and thereafterexerting downward pressure on said grid divider plate whereby saidrearwardly protruding ear beveled edge engages and flexes said U- shapedflange a sufficient amount to allow said ear to be snapped into saidsecond pocket thereby removably securing said ejector grid within saidcontainer, said lug and said ear extending into their respective endpockets a predetermined depth such that a clearance space is definedbetween the extremities of said lug and said ear and their respectiveadjacent end groove vertical wall surfaces so as not to substantiallyinterrupt the flow of liquid in the end grooves when said container isbeing filled or hand carried, a plurality of equally spaced side ribslocated in the side groove along each said side wall, each said side ribintegrally molded along the top wall surface and along the inwardlyfacing vertical wall surface of its respective side wall groove, eachsaid side rib extending downwardly from its top wall surface a distancesuch that its bottom edge is positioned approximately midway between itsassociated side groove top wall and bottom wall surfaces so as not tosubstantially interrupt the flow of liquid in the side grooves when saidcontainer is being filled or hand carried, each said side rib formedwith its inner facing edge sloped downwardly and outwardly toward itsrespective side groove such that each said rib inner facing edge is inflush relation with the inner edge of its respective top wall sur face,each, said side rib inner facing edge located approximately intermediatethe adjacent transverse partitions of said ejector grid structure toinsure that ice pieces are guided past said U-shaped flange and freelyharvested from said freezing container without the possibility of beingobstructed by said U-shaped flange when said freezing container and saidejector grid are supported in an inverted position on an ice piececollecting bin.

1. A rectangular spillguard freezing container of flexible resilientmaterial in combination with an ice piece forming ejector gridstructure, said container including bottom wall means and side and endwall means, a substantially stiff inturned U-shaped flange adjacent thetop of said end and said side wall means extending outwardly from saidwall means, said U-shaped flange containing a large inwardly open grooveformed by substantially horizontal top wall and bottom wall surfaces anda substantially vertical inwardly facing wall surface joining said topwall and bottom wall surfaces, said U-shaped flange extendingcontinuously around the periphery of said container above and entirelyoutside the confines of all of said end and side wall means wherein theimprovement comprises; means for releasably securing said ejector gridstructure in said container, said ejector grid comprising alongitudinally extending divider plate and a plurality of transversecross walls, said divider plate being provided at its front end with aforwardly protruding lug and at its back end with a rearwardlyprotruding ear, said ear formed with a rearwardly facing edge beveleddownwardly and inwardly, a pair of closely spaced end ribs located ineach transverse end wall groove formed by said U-shaped flanges, eachpair of end ribs being substantially equally spaced on either side ofthe longitudinal center line of said container forming first and secondopposed end pockets in said U-shaped flange, each said end ribintegrally molded with said top wall surface and said inwardly facingvertical wall surface of its associated end wall groove, each said endrib extending substantially the full width of its associated end groove,each said end rib extending downwardly from its respective top wallsurface a distance such that its bottom edge is positioned approximatelymidway between its associated end groove top and bottom wall surfaces soas not to substantially interrupt liquid flow passageway in the endgrooves, said ejector grid being inserted in said container by locatingsaid forwardly extending lug in said first pocket and thereafterexerting downward pressure on said grid divider plate whereby saidrearwardly protruding ear beveled edge engages and flexes said U-shapedflange a sufficient amount to allow said ear to be snapped into saidsecond pocket thereby removably securing said ejector grid within saidcontainer, said lug and said ear extending into their respective endpockets a predetermined depth such that a clearance space is definedbetween the extremities of said lug and said ear and their respectiveadjacent end groove vertical wall surfaces so as not to substantiallyinterrupt the flow of liquid in the end grooves when said container isbeing filled or hand carried, A plurality of equally spaced side ribslocated in the side groove along each said side wall, each said side ribintegrally molded along the top wall surface and along the inwardlyfacing vertical wall surface of its respective side wall groove, eachsaid side rib extending downwardly from its top wall surface a distancesuch that its bottom edge is positioned approximately midway between itsassociated side groove top wall and bottom wall surfaces so as not tosubstantially interrupt the flow of liquid in the side grooves when saidcontainer is being filled or hand carried, each said side rib formedwith its inner facing edge sloped downwardly and outwardly toward itsrespective side groove such that each said rib inner facing edge is inflush relation with the inner edge of its respective top wall surface,each said side rib inner facing edge located approximately intermediatethe adjacent transverse partitions of said ejector grid structure toinsure that ice pieces are guided past said U-shaped flange and freelyharvested from said freezing container without the possibility of beingobstructed by said U-shaped flange when said freezing container and saidejector grid are supported in an inverted position on an ice piececollecting bin.